Perks Of Being A Non-Malalyali Medico!

 Pookalam - flowers everywhere!

Celebrating Onam definitely is one, on the other hand no matter how hard I try Malayalam will remain a language that is impossible to learn in this life. My 'endaveno' is more like' gindaveno'.  When two Keralites are in  deep conversation I stand looking at them wide-eyed and all ears, I try my best to understand and all I get is the speed, so commendable! Every word sounds like a palindrome from all directions.The real problem according to me is that lip reading never works here, all because the tongue is on a roll. Funnily this happens every other moment if one is working in a hospital for reasons known ;-)

 Enters Mahabali- apparently he is one of our ambulance drivers who was sporty enough to wear this royal costume, he has been doing this for the last 9 years!

What also happens during the festive season of Onam is the grand celebration by the staff nurses. We at Apollo Hospitals, Bengaluru celebrated Onam today. Our nursing director mentioned an interesting fact " If need be a Keralite may even sell his property to celebrate Onam!" she said. The crowd burst into peals of laughter on that. On a serious note what is admirable is the sense of commitment that they show to their rich heritage and culture even today,when you watch it your heart swells with joy and pride.

 Pulikali- tigers dance too !

This spirit is totally infectious; the flowers, the colours, the dance and the music can keep one blissful for weeks. I have never witnessed such elaborate preparations and attention to details during any festival ever. So many songs and dance forms, stories and decorations, Pulikali and Mahabali, boats and oars, sarees and dhotis, bananas and coconuts, flowers and lamps, Kaikotti Kali and Kathakali. The list is endless, and ofcourse who can forget the Onam Sadya, slurp!

Sorry I could not share this sumptous lunch :-( I am sharing a video of one of the dance forms-'Thiruvathirakali' which was performed today, such pose and grace, even that's a grand treat to watch :-)

Yo! Apollo family staff nurses! :-)

 -R.

A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose

...whether you give it with your left hand or right, so I argued with one of my friends way back in school. It was during one of those functions when we had to go up the podium and give each of the teachers sitting there one. And me being left handed, it was quite scout like, surprisingly the teacher smiled too. Well, that's the magic about a rose. It conveys everything that you feel - how many ever you give, however you give and whichever colour you give, it really doesn't matter. I am sharing a few of my favorite rosy quotes today. I hope they make you smile too :-)

"What's in a name ? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

-William Shakespeare

"The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose."

-George William Curtis

"A rose can never be a sunflower, and a sunflower can never be a rose.All flowers are beautiful in their own way, and that’s like women too. I want to encourage women to embrace their own uniqueness."

-Miranda Kerr

"One rose says more than a dozen."

-Wendy Craig

And last but my favorite: 

"Anyone can love a rose, but it takes a lot to love a leaf. It's ordinary to love the beautiful, but it's beautiful to love the ordinary."

-Unknown-

-R.

Posers

“Just living is not enough...one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” 

-Hans Christian Anderson-

These flowers live in the garden of a dear aunt of mine, I clicked their photographs yesterday. Quite colourful posers aren't they? I wish we could give a carefree smile like them:-)

A happy Vishu to you all.

Wishes and love for the new year :-)

-R